I was recently involved ina  discussion of the origins of the codeword 
"Friends of Dorothy", and while I had heard it used often I was never 
really clear on the subtleties.

The reference was to a Manahatten doyenne by the name of Dorothy who was 
an editor for a well known magazine.  She was the source of much 
information about the social calendar in the homosexual community and 
people came to use her name in looking for information about the big 
parties happening while they were in town.

Eventually, the code spread beyond New York through the mistaken 
assumption that "Dorothy" referred to the Judy Garland character in the 
Wizard of Oz.  (Garland has long had a following in the gay community.)

Anyone else know any other details?  Anyone familiar with its current 
interpretation?

16 responses total.

I do recall that the Stonewall riots of 1969 came about as the gay 
community was honoring the memory of Judy Garland, who died several days
 before the aforementioned incidents.

Hmm...I've never heard much (read "at all") of any of this.  But I suppose
I'm not as up on culture and history and whatnot as I should be...

I discovered that Dorothy's last name was Dean so maybe I'll do a web 
search for more information about here.

One of my questions is does "Friend of Dorothy" refer only to 
homosexuals or also to hangers-on in Gay society?  Presumably it once 
meant anyone who traveled in those circles in Manhatten, but has it 
become more restricted?

   it pretty much refers only to gays. a more recent and more inclusive
term is "family," which refers to anyone in the l/g/sometimes bi
community (i have personal reasons for disliking that term, though).
haven't heard "friends of dorothy" in a long, long time.

Is there an analogous phrase in the lesbian community?

what is analogous?  i might be able to help...but i'm kinda dumb when it comes
to big words

   "analogous" means similar. not one that i'm aware of, mta, but that
doesn't mean there isn't one. it used to be that longterm lesbian
relationships were referred to as "boston marriages," but i haven't
had time yet to track down the etymology of the term.

Hmm, that's interesting -- Boston Marriage, eh?  I love language!  
It does so many cool tricks.  <grin>

Thanks Void.

*boston* marages?  Does this say anything about the city?  (even if out of
date?)<just curious>

(Maybe some sort of especially lenient common-law marriage law?)

   dunno. since my computer committed suicide, i haven't even been able
to use lynx to do any web-searching, and my time is so crunched that
going to the library is nigh impossible.

<stay tuned folks, this aint over yet>

Druid, we have extra computers that you can have cheap, old PCs.

are there enough to share?  <grin>

There is a glut of old PCs around, all of which can be used for accessing
grex.  Our offer was to put together a computer, monitor, keyboard, modem
and communications software for $36, the money to go to grex.  If you want
more than the real basics, we can pick it up for you at Kiwanis, you pay.

   thanks for the offer, keesan, but i'm working on building my own
computer. besides, i still need to call you about that bike. :)

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